Automatic train-pipe coupling.



N. E. NIED'ERLANDER. AUTOMATIG TRQIN PIPE GOUPLING. APiLIOATION FILED OCT. 29, 1906.

1,025,2Q1 Patented May 7, 1912.

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AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED OO'I. 29, 1906.

Patented May a 1912.

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VHTNESSS un rnn "STA'W OFF NICHOLAS r. NIEDERLANDEB, on ST. LOUIS, mr ssonar, assrenon'rowns'rmenousr AUTOMATIC AIR & STEAM COUPLER COMPANY, or ST. LOUIS, MIsso BL'A conce- RATION OF ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN-PIPE COUPLING.

Patented May 7; i912 Application filed October 29, 1906. Serial No. 340340.

T all whom it may concern:

lie it known that I, N'Iortoms F. Nicotinmxnmn. a citizen of the United States,-residing at St. Louis, in the-State of Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic T rain-Pipe Couplings, of .which the following is a specification.-

This invention relates to automatic 0 pplings for air brake, signal, and other train pipes. for conducting fluid under pressure through a train of cars, and more particularly to that type having a butt joint with a straight port opening. In this class automatic couplings the opposite or counterpart coupling heads of adjacent cars are usually held together merely by the force of springs which, are compressed by'the action of the cars in coming together and there is liability of leakage between the gaskets of the pipe couplings. due to lateralvibrations and the wear of the parts upon each other produced by irregular motion in passing around curves and various'other causes.

The main object of my present invention is to provide improved means for clamping the, coupling heads with their gaskets tightly together during the time that the parts are coupled p and thereby prevent a large amount of wear between the gaskets and preserve a fluid tight joint.

In the accompanying drawing; Figure 1 a side elevation of an automatic coupling member embodying one .form of my improvement; Fig. 2 an end View of the same,

showing the coupling face; and Fig. 3 an elevation, taken at an angle of forty-five degrees, of two members coupled together,

a part being broken away and shown in central longitudinal section.

According to the construction shown in the drawings, the coupling device comprises a head 1 having substantially a square face arranged perpendicular to the direction of movement of the cars and carrying a gasket 2 having an opening communicating with train pipe section 3 and adapted to make a huttjoint with a corresponding gasket on acounterpart coupling head.

The sides of the square faced .head are preferably arranged at an angle of forty-five degrees to vertical and horizontal planes,

. and two of the opposite sides are provided with outwardly. flaring tapered wings or the properv positions asthe car couplings are brought together.

The pipe section 3 extends through a suitable hanger 5 attached to the car or to the car coupler and slides in a. sleeve 7, which also passes through the hanger and is provided with a flange or plate at its forward end and with a vent 11 at its inner ent the main springbeing mounted be- La'cen the hanger and the plate 10. On the i 0 section 3' a shoulder 19 is formed which engages the sleeveor plate 10 when the head is pushed inward to-compress the preliminary spring'E). Y

For locking the heads together latch levers '13 are pivoted at 15 on brackets 18 formed on the heads 1 and having a spring latch 14 and a rearwardly curved end 16 for engaging the plate 10 when the preliminary spring 9 is compressed. This spring 9, which is much lighter than the main spring-S, is mounted on the pipe.'sec-- tion 3 between the flanges 10 and 12, and

normally acts to extend. the coupling head to the position shown'.i n Fig. 1 when the parts areuncoupled.

When the two counterpartheads of adjacent cars are brought together forcoupling, the gathering flanges 4 guide the heads together in Pa;- proper position for the gaskets 2 to register with each other and further movement acts to compress the prelimmary springs 9 iintllthe shoulders 19 engage the end of the guide sleeve 7 During this movement'the curved vends 16 otthe lovers 13 engage the plates 10 and turn the spring latches 14 to look over thet-apered edges 17 of the two opposing heads of the couplers and thereby clamp the same together, as shown in Fig. 3. During the furtherand final movement of the cars necessary to'unite the car couplers the main springs S are compressed to a certain extent and the coupling operation 13 complete.

The heads may be suspended by means of" chains 6, which provide for a sufficient flexibility to accommodate the lateral motion necessary in passing around curves and over other irregularities of the track.

During the running of the train with the cars coupled up, the gaskets 2 are held toioo gether not only with the pressure of the maln springs 8 but with the spring latches of the locking levers by whichthe heads are clamped together, so as to prevent any leakage of fluid pressure between the gaskets even when the coupling heads are subjected to the severe jarring and lateral motion incident to the running of the train.

,Whenthe cars are uncoupledsand move Any suitable form of locking means op erated by the movement of the coupling members in coming together may be employed for clamping the heads together, but I prefer to use the pivoted lever with a spring latch, as this construction has the additional advantage, of permitting the heads to couple and uncouple by the yielding of, the spring latch, eten if for any rem son the spring 9 should not have moved the ends 16 of the levers 13 away from engagementwith the plates 10.

It will now be seen that by means of my improvement the air pipes or other fluid,

' pressure conduits through a train may be automatically coupled anduncoupled at the time of coupling and uncoupling the cars.

While 'but one air pipe, connection is shown in the drawing, it will be evident that two or more such couplings maybe *made at the same time and that the coupling heads may be readily formed to carry a correspondin number of gaskets communicating With t 1e several pipe connections.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to-sccurebyLetters Patent, 1s:-

1. In an automatic plpe coupling, a coupling head-carrying a gasket opening communicating with a pipe section, a main resistance spring for extending said head, 7 means for clamping two counterpart heads together, and a preliminary spring for extending the head and releasing the clamping device.

2. In an automatic pipe coupling, section provided with a coupling head and a gasket opening, guide wings on said head; a spring for extending said head, locking levers operated by the lineal movementfor clamping counterpart heads together, and a preliminary spring for extending the head to release the locking levers.

3. In an automatic pipe coupling, a pipe section provided with a coupling head and a gasket opening, guide wings on said head, a main spring for extending said head,locking levers for clamping counterpart heads together, a preliminary spring plate for engaging the ends of the locking .70 for further extendin the head, and a camlevers when the preliminary spring is compressed.

4. In an automatic pipe coupling, a pi pe section provided with a coupling head and a gasket opening, guide wings on said head. a main spring for extending said head, locking levers for clamping counterpart heads together, a preliminary spring for further extending the head, a guide sleeve for carrying said pipe section, a hanger supporting the sleeve, and a' cam plate carried on said sleeve for engaging the endsof the locking levers.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

NICHOLAS F. NIEDERLANDER.

\Vitnesses R. E. Annnon, A. J. Smsoorra. 

